Gadsden Family to compete on America’s Bible Challenge

J.R, Kelley and Rene Zeringue tested their Bible knowledge for a nationally televised game show, airing Thursday, May 2, on the Game Show Network, as a way to raise money and awareness of living organ donation.

The Zeringues’ “Team Hello Kidney” competed on “The American Bible Challenge” for a total purse of $140,000, to go to the National Living Donor Assistance Center, which provides reimbursement of expenses based on financial need for those who volunteer to be living organ donors.

J.R. Zeringue is the owner of ACE Gym, and a cheerleading/gymnastics coach. Kelley Zeringue is a Christian romance author, published under the name Rene Andrews. In addition to her novels published as part of Harlequin’s Inspire series, Kelley was one of a select group of writers invited to write devotionals for Guideposts 2013 collection, available now. Their son Rene is a youth minister.

Kelley is a living kidney donor herself. In 2010, she learned ACE cheer coach Matt McCallum needed a kidney transplant. “I really felt that God was testing me to move in that direction,” Kelley said in an interview at the time. “The doctors kept telling me that it would be a long shot, but I knew I’d be a perfect match.”

McCallum had faced health problems since age seven and his kidneys failed in 2006 when he was 21. He had been on dialysis since that time. He had been waiting for a transplant for four years, when he received Kelley’s kidney Nov. 11, 2010.

Both McCallum and Kelley are happy and healthy now, according to a press release from Game Show Network about the upcoming show.

“Besides having just about the most clever team name ever, the Zeringues give everything they’ve got on the show,” host Jeff Foxworthy said. “They do Alabama very proud.”

In addition to the money the Zeringues can earn for their charity with their knowledge of the Bible, GSN recently launched “The American Bible Challenge Fan Favorite.” Through May 19, fans of the show can go to the web site http://gsntv.com and vote for their favorite team. Fans can vote once a day through May 19, and can begin voting for Team Hello Kidney before the show airs Thursday night.

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy is host and producer of the one-hour show, now in its second season. The tournament starts with 18 three-person teams. Three teams compete against each other in the first six shows of the season and winning teams advance to pay in two semi-final games. During the season finale, which airs at 8 p.m. May 23, one team will be named champion, and the winning fan favorite will be announced.